Feliciano will give a brief performance and sit down with writer Bill Dow to discuss the anthem that sent out shock waves with his soulful, slowed-down interpretation. The free event is tied to the museum’s current exhibition, "The Year of the Tiger: 1968."

Later that night, Feliciano will sing the anthem at Comerica Park before a game that pits the Tigers against their '68 World Series rivals, the St. Louis Cardinals.

The story of the "Star-Spangled Banner" controversy is covered by the museum's exhibition, which also includes artifacts and video clips of the championship season. It runs through Oct. 7 at the museum.

Today, artists are given wide latitude to put their personal spin on the anthem at sports events. But amid the political and social turmoil of 1968, Feliciano's acoustic version, done at the now-gone Tiger Stadium, prompted widespread complaints that it was disrespectful and unpatriotic because it didn't stick to the usual notes and tempo.

And the sunglasses worn by the blind singer, coupled with his longer hair (for that era), drew misguided criticism as a hippie statement.

In the end, a single of the live recording made it onto the charts and Feliciano paved the way for other stars to bring some artistic flair to the sports event ritual.

As Feliciano recently told Smithsonian magazine, “When I did the anthem, I did it with the understanding in my heart and mind that I did it because I’m a patriot. I was trying to be a grateful patriot. I was expressing my feelings for America when I did the anthem my way instead of just singing it with an orchestra.”

Jose Feliciano(Photo: Gary He/AP Photo)

This year, the singer of hits like "Light My Fire" and "Feliz Navidad" donated the guitar he used at the game to the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History and sang the "Star-Spangled Banner" there for 20 immigrants from 17 nations taking the oath to become American citizens.

in 2010, Feliciano came to Comerica Park to reprise the anthem for a pregame tribute held following the death of legendary Tigers announcer Ernie Harwell. It was Harwell who was responsible for booking him in 1968.